Kathryn (Kathy) Martin, who won 5 national titles in the 800, 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meter races, and set an American record in the 2000 meter steeplechase. The 56-year-old from Northport (NY) was virtually unstoppable in the 55-59 age group competition.
The USA Athletics sanctioned meet was held on August 2. 7-10 at Spokane Falls Community College track, one of the best, if not the best, dedicated track locations among community colleges in the nation. Most of the tracks are built around a more popular sporting venue, such as soccer. At Spokane Falls Community College, it is clear that athletic competition is a primary concern.
Kathy Martin won all 5 titles in 4 days battling 90+ degree temperatures at Spokane’s 2,000+ foot elevation in dry heat and no humidity.
His closest race was the 800 which he won in 2:38.56 with runner-up Coreen Steinbach of Pompey (NY) less than a second behind. Martin’s biggest margin of victory came in the 5000, which he won in 19:09.20, nearly 2 minutes ahead of his closest competitor.
Martin’s two signature races, the 1500 and the 10,000, left little doubt as to who was in charge at the track. He won the 10,000 in 41:13.60, slower than his American age group record of 39:37.78 set last year. He also holds the current national record of 37:12.23 set in 2004 in the 50-54 age group.
Resembling a very fast perpetual motion machine, Martin broke away from his competition in the 1500, winning in 5:13.49 by over 12 seconds and with a time less than a second slower than his current US record of 5. : 12.62 set last year. He also holds the current national record of 4:52.55 set in 2002 in the 50–54 age group.
The icing on her 5-layer cake came in her apparent first attempt at the 2000 meter steeplechase when she set a national record in 8:23.20, demolishing 7-year-old Marie Michelsohn’s 8:37.7 mark set in 2001.
Kathy Martin is an inspiring running machine who continues to rank as one of America’s top middle distance runners in masters competitions.
Three other competitors, including two American record holders, were double winners in major running events in the competition.
Seattle’s Stephen Robbins won the age group 65-69 100 in 12.56 and set a new US record in the 200 in 25.36, breaking Paul Johnson’s mark of 25.76 set in 2001. Robbins set the current US record 100 (pending) of 12.37 earlier in August.
Nolan Shaheed of Pasadena, CA (55-59) won the 1500 in 4:44.38 and the 5000 in 17:00.60. Shaheed holds the same US age group record of 4:20.76 set in 2004. Nolan Shaheed also holds the world masters record of 4:27.9 in the mile for the 50-54 age group, which he set in 2000.
Don Coffman of Stamping Ground, KY (65-69) was the third double winner, taking the 5,000 in 19:10.26 and the 10,000 in 39:16.00, more than a full 6 minutes faster than his closest competitor.
Other notable age group performances included:
Aaron Thigpen of Brentwood, CA (40-44) clocked 11.00 in the 100.
Renee Henderson of Merchantville, NJ (40-44) at 12.31 in the 100.
Lonnie Hooker of Upper Marlboro, MD (45-49) with a 22.58 in the 200.
Jai Black of San Diego, CA (45-49) clocked 1:02.15 in the 400.
Courtney Muhammad of Mesa, AZ (45-49) at 51.41 in the 400.
Neil Fitzgerald of New York, NY (40-44) clocked 1:59.51 in the 800.
James Morton of Springfield, MA (50-54) clocked 2:04.89 in the 800.
Lisa Valle of Albuquerque, NM (40-44) clocked 2:20.35 in the 800.
Jim Selby of Fallbrook, CA (80-84) clocked 3:19.10 in the 800.
Kevin Forde of Philadelphia, PA (40-44) clocked 4:10.78 in the 1500.
Christine Olen of Boise, ID (40-44) clocked 4:53.50 in the 1500.
Mike Stickley of Winchester, VA (45-49) clocked 16:10.70 in the 5000.
Susan Empey of Mercer Island, WA (40-44) in 18:17.47 in the 5000.
Richard Becker of Selah, WA (50-54) clocked 34:22.94 in the 10,000.
Alyssa Tower of Vancouver, WA (45-49) in 38:21.83 in the 10,000.
Karen Steen of Olympia, WA (40-44) with a time of 7:24.59 in the 2000 steeplechase.
Ronald Pate of Honolulu, HI (60-64) with a time of 8:44.84 in the 2000 steeplechase.
Essie Faria of Miami, FL (70-74) with a time of 14:37.24 in the 2000 steeplechase.
Kevin Stover of York, PA (40-44) with a time of 10:45.96 in the 3000 steeplechase.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley